Cherish the Ladies herald Celtic Christmas spirit

TROY -- Cherish the Ladies, a world-renown Celtic music act, will return to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Saturday with Christmas spirit.

Singer, flutist and whistle player Joanie Madden is excited to return to the area.

"We're no strangers to the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. We've been there a number of times through the years and are looking forward to coming back," she said. "It's a magnificent venue.

"We're really happy to be coming back to Troy with our Celtic Christmas program. It's our favorite time of year to tour. It's great to see all the fans come out together and get everybody singing along with the Celtic Christmas carols that we play."

Advertisement

Madden has been a part of the group since it was formed.

"There were so many young Irish-American girls playing Irish thistle music in a scene that had been dominated for centuries by men. We thought it would be wonderful to put a group together to celebrate that," she said.

Irish musician and folklorist Mick Moloney helped Madden organize the group in 1985.

"A few (of the members) had come back from Ireland and had won Old Irish Championships on our respective instruments. (Moloney) was so excited by this that he thought it should be celebrated," Madden said. "So we recorded an album and it was chosen by the Library of Congress as the best album of the year. We received a grant to go on the road for two weeks. It's been 28 years in January."

Cherish the Ladies is still fueled by passion and love for Irish music.

"When we first started, we were young pups who didn't have a clue," Madden said. "Now, after doing five or six thousand shows, we're seasoned performers. We've been so fortunate to travel all over the world and represent Irish America. It's the wonderful, traditional instruments of Irish music that really lend themselves to Christmas shows."

The group has recorded two Christmas albums. The first album, "On Christmas Night," was named one of the top 10 Christmas albums of the year in 2004.

"I really love this time of year," Madden said. "We spend a lot of time on our arrangements and try to make them different and unique."

That tradition is something Cherish the Ladies hopes to continue.

"It's changed," Madden said, "but it has remained constant. At the end of the day, we're just very much purists trying to play the music that has been passed down to us. It's just wonderful to get the opportunity to do this as a first-generation Irish-American. I feel so fortunate every day. We're coming up on 30 years as a band, so it's amazing that we're still going, and going strong."

In addition to their usual Christmas act, Cherish the Ladies is bringing some special friends for the show, according to Madden.

"We are bringing five step dancers, including three world champions and the principle dancer of Riverdance," she said. "We have a great show. It's going to be a 12-piece singing and dancing extravaganza."

The band can't wait to see their fans, as well as fans of regular Christmas carols, at the show.

"Those people are going to have a great time," Madden said. "That's the main thing. We know that people have a good time and a good laugh. That's what it's all about. I'm very proud of the girls. We have a fantastic Christmas show, and I know anyone who comes out to the Savings Hall is going to have a ball. The feedback from this tour has been absolutely incredible. That's mission accomplished. It's going to be a packed house and it's going to be great."